Dollar Store Purchases That Might Be Dangerous Shutterstock By Lauren Cahn/Jan. 27, 2021 2:23 pm EDT There's a lot to love about dollar store shopping. First and foremost, there's the cheaper prices on a variety of items, including cleaning products, office supplies, clothing, and cosmetics. And you can rely on those prices no matter everywhere. Dollar General, for example, had 16,278 U.S. locations in 2019. And part of the dollar store business model is to open up exactly where they seem to be most needed, which is to say, neighborhoods where incomes tend to be low and few other shopping options exist — that's actually one of the reasons dollar stores make so much money. But therein lies the rub.